Frustrated May Graduate

Nursecathy123ca · Feb 4, 2004

Originally posted by Texasgurl79
Hi yall!
Im graduating in May as a GN from Tyler and am wanting to do an internship in Austin, preferably at Seton. I was wondering if anyone knew how much they started GNs, and if it was possible to live there on that pay with a $400/month loan repayment. I have been looking around the larger Texas cities and it seems like all hospitals start around $17-18, no matter if its Tyler or Houston. Was wondering how the larger city hospitals make up for this, with a higher cost of living. I'd love more than anything to live in Austin, but I'm worried I won't be able to afford it. Any info would be a great help. Thanks!

Congrats on your imminent graduation!

My first job out of nursing school (with an ADN) was at Seton, Med/Surg floor. The pay at that time, 1998, was about $16/hour. If you get paid the PRN rate, it would be more, about $24/hr but you are first cancelled in case of low pt. census. You could call the HR dept. at Seton; they would be glad to talk to you.

As for living costs, you would have to live very frugally and have a roommate. If you work the night shift, the pay differential could make a big difference. But, really, call HR. It has been 6 yrs since I worked there, so things could have changed.

BTW, why did you choose Seton? I wasn't happy with my experience there. I know they are now a Magnet Hospital, but not to me! I think St. David's treat their staff better and don't work them so hard.

Hope this helps.

Texasgurl79 · Feb 5, 2004

Thanks for replying! I guess Im looking at Seton bc all the people I've talked to say it's a good place to work, but that's usually not directly from an employee. I don't know how well most hospitals orient new grads, so I wanted to do an internship, and I didn't know if St. David's did one. But thanks for the info, I will get in contact with them as well. Appreciate the advice!

cowgirlnurse · Mar 17, 2004

Several Questions. I am in Nursing school now. Just started actually this semester. Anyway, I have been reading thru a lot of these forums and am beginning to get a little worried aobut why people say the pay is only $16/hr or thereabouts. I was under the impression that RNs made a little more than that....??? Also, what is a GN???

Texasgurl79 · Mar 18, 2004

Several Questions. I am in Nursing school now. Just started actually this semester. Anyway, I have been reading thru a lot of these forums and am beginning to get a little worried aobut why people say the pay is only $16/hr or thereabouts. I was under the impression that RNs made a little more than that....??? Also, what is a GN???

I've looked around different areas, and the starting rate for an unexperienced RN is around 18/hr. I also thought nurses made a little more than that, but I guess it's not too bad with shift differentials, sign-on bonuses, overtime, etc. I often hear people say that nurses can't be that great if they ONLY make around 20/hr and that pisses me off. I think that's one reason we're so unappreciated. Oh, and a GN is a graduate nurse, one who has graduated but hasn't taken boards yet.

Good luck with school! I didn't like it too much when I first started out, but once you get the testing style and terminology down, it gets a lot easier. The only regrets I have is not taking full advantage of my clinical time, and not working as an extern while in school. Both are valuable for experience. If you have any questions about nursing school, I'll be glad to answer what I can!

mjbsn2006 · Mar 20, 2004

Did you say that you were graduating from UT tyler in May? If so I start the program in fall 2004.

I've looked around different areas, and the starting rate for an unexperienced RN is around 18/hr. I also thought nurses made a little more than that, but I guess it's not too bad with shift differentials, sign-on bonuses, overtime, etc. I often hear people say that nurses can't be that great if they ONLY make around 20/hr and that pisses me off. I think that's one reason we're so unappreciated. Oh, and a GN is a graduate nurse, one who has graduated but hasn't taken boards yet.
Good luck with school! I didn't like it too much when I first started out, but once you get the testing style and terminology down, it gets a lot easier. The only regrets I have is not taking full advantage of my clinical time, and not working as an extern while in school. Both are valuable for experience. If you have any questions about nursing school, I'll be glad to answer what I can!

mjbsn2006 · Mar 20, 2004

Did you say that you were graduating from UT tyler in May? If so I start the program in fall 2004.

I've looked around different areas, and the starting rate for an unexperienced RN is around 18/hr. I also thought nurses made a little more than that, but I guess it's not too bad with shift differentials, sign-on bonuses, overtime, etc. I often hear people say that nurses can't be that great if they ONLY make around 20/hr and that pisses me off. I think that's one reason we're so unappreciated. Oh, and a GN is a graduate nurse, one who has graduated but hasn't taken boards yet.
Good luck with school! I didn't like it too much when I first started out, but once you get the testing style and terminology down, it gets a lot easier. The only regrets I have is not taking full advantage of my clinical time, and not working as an extern while in school. Both are valuable for experience. If you have any questions about nursing school, I'll be glad to answer what I can!